Bill To Open Police Records To Public Advances

Associated Press - February 25, 2014 8:15 am

A bill that would make some police records available to the public will go before the Kansas House.

The House Judiciary committee on Monday approved the bill, which would make police documents that explain reasons to arrest people open to the public. The bill would also make affidavits to justify search warrants open to the parties involved.

That people whose home is searched would have 30 days to request documentation that explained the reasons for the search.

Kansas is one of the few states in the country that seals probable-cause affidavits.

The bill would allow prosecutors to seal or redact the records if releasing them would jeopardize “the safety or well-being” of a victim or witness.